Raid against the Sinaloa Cartel, seizing millions of dollars’ worth of meth

Authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on the Sinaloa cartel, seizing millions of dollars’ worth of methamphetamine in a series of coordinated raids.

48 suspected members of a drug trafficking network linked to the Sinaloa Cartel have been indicted on charges of distributing meth, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine in a joint operation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Organized Crime Combating Task Force (OCDETF), the U.S. Attorney General’s Office for the Southern District of California in a statement.

According to court records, the individuals were allegedly part of a drug trafficking organization that operated out of the Imperial Valley and Mexicali, Mexico, and had ties to “Los Rusos,” the main armed faction of the Sinaloa Cartel loyal to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, records show .

The DOJ reported that over 140 federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested 25 suspects and executed 15 search warrants in various locations, including Imperial County in California, Yuma in Arizona and Las Vegas in Nevada. According to authorities, 23 other suspects are still at large in connection with the case.

The charges include drug trafficking, conspiracy and cash smuggling. The investigation uncovered more than 8,000 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as significant amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and a firearm.

The estimated street value of the drugs is estimated at approximately $72 million, based on a previous meth discovery in Texas using Customs and Border Protection (CBP) estimates. Newsweek calculated the average price of a pound of meth, multiplied it, and contacted the Department of Justice to confirm the estimated value of the drugs.

The price of narcotics can vary from state to state based on several factors, according to CBP.

a CBP spokesman said Newsweek: “Street value is difficult to determine because there are so many factors, such as geography, trade volumes, retail or wholesale.”

The faction of the Sinaloa Cartel charged in this indictment is known as Los Rusos and is loyal to the notorious drug lord El Mayo, currently imprisoned in New York.

Jesús Alexander Sánchez Félix serves as the leader of Los Rusos, who control the drug smuggling routes in Baja California.

El Mayo loyalists were engaged in a bloody and violent cartel war against “Los Chapitos,” the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

The Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations, has historically controlled drug routes to the United States

The main reason for the cartel war between Los Chapitos and Los Rusos appears to be the competition for control of drug trafficking routes and for profits, particularly from the production and distribution of illegal drugs.

“This investigation represents another blow to traffickers of deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine,” U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in the statement.

“By charging four dozen people, we are not only dismantling a major drug trafficking network, but we are also taking important steps to protect our community from the devastating effects of these drugs. “The people fueling the crisis will be held accountable.”

“The challenge for HSI in investigating cases related to the Sinaloa Cartel is not only to hunt down those who profit from the addiction, but also to dismantle the transnational network that is responsible for the scourge of our communities and the “This is responsible for the disruption of families,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego, the statement said.

“The success of today’s operation would not have been possible without the unwavering support and support of our law enforcement partners. By working together, we all bring unique skills to the fight against these human trafficking organizations and can disrupt and dismantle cells like these.”